Vets Week in Aurora – right around the corner – is all about honoring those who defended our nation, present and past. And this year's event, which will begin May 20 and run through Memorial Day, is going almost as far back as possible to pay homage to those who served.

The Root Street Cemetery, which has fallen victim to vandals, kids and neglect over the years, was once the home to a Revolutionary War soldier from Aurora, and is still the final resting place of a few dozen Civil War veterans.

"I was shocked when I saw how bad it was," said Joe Toma, chairman of the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council, which sponsors this more-than-a-week of activities to raise awareness and funds for veterans in need.

And so, the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council committee members declared it a mission to give this graveyard a facelift. On May 24, of Vets Week, this oldest public burial site in Aurora will officially be dedicated as the Root Street Memorial Cemetery, with Civil War reenactors, color guards and dignitaries on hand to give the ceremony the pomp and circumstance it deserves.

The city "views this as an opportunity to enhance the overall appearance of this property and prepare it as a true memorial for those Aurorans who served in the Civil War," said Neighborhood Standards Director Chuck Nelson.

Recently city workers descended upon the site, located at Root and Flagg streets and adjacent to the Fred Rodgers Youth Center, to pick up litter, trim trees, weed, replace or repair lighting and install a new U.S. flag … all in time for what should be an impressive dedication.

"The point is to get it back to how it should be," said committee member Lisa Garcia. "This place really does need to be respected."

Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News

The committee for Vets Week from the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council meets regularly to go over myriad details needed to make this nine-day event a success.

The committee for Vets Week from the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council meets regularly to go over myriad details needed to make this nine-day event a success. (Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News)

With good reason. According to Aurora Historical Society Executive Director John Jaros, a few original stones for Civil War vets can still be seen, and there may be as many as a couple dozen soldiers buried in this city's oldest public cemetery.

This isn't the first time much-needed attention has been paid to these grounds also known as East Aurora Cemetery. On Memorial Day weekend of 2005, thanks to a $10,000 grant, city officials and the local chapter of the Sons of Union Veterans of Civil War held a ceremony there, which included installing nine grave markers removed by vandals years earlier. According to newspaper accounts, the area was often used as a ball diamond for kids or a shortcut for drivers.

Six more markers were added later, he said. Yet over the next 12 years, the cemetery has continued to be an attraction for those who can't grasp or acknowledge the significance of this area.

"It is sacred ground and deserves more attention," noted Second Ward Alderman Juany Garza, who helped facilitate the city's clean-up and who has led the charge in getting word out to the neighborhood about the event, including the fact gunshots they could hear on May 24 will be coming from Civil War reenactors.

Nelson said further plans for the cemetery include installing a new fence to beautify and secure the west entrance and putting up new signage at the west, south and east entrances. In addition to preparing the site for the Vets Week event, he added, "the city will maintain the property as a memorial park going forward."

"The whole process woke a lot of people up to just how special this place is," said Toma.

Just so you know, there's a lot more pomp and circumstance – not to mention T-shirts, vintage cars and BBQ ---during this Second Annual Aurora Vets Week that Toma said will be even more jam-packed than last year's.

You can go to www.vetsweekaurora.org for more specifics. But in a nutshell: The nine days kick off with the Armed Forces Day Car Show May 20 at West Aurora Plaza. The following day is a 5K Fun Run/Walk – dogs invited, too – at Phillips Park. A forum for vets on homeownership will take place that Monday at the Prisco Center, and the Paramount Theatre will screen "Saving Private Ryan" that evening.

Tuesday is "The Day of Giving" and will involve a huge food drive with the help of the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Fox Valley Marines and Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry. That evening at the City Council meeting, Aurora will be named a Purple Heart City, joining the Village of Oswego and Kendall County in this distinction.

On Thursday that week, the day after the Civil War dedication event at the cemetery, there will be the popular Drive Thru BBQ at the IBEW 461 Local on Sullivan Road and Highland Avenue. Friday will feature the Vietnam Veterans 50th Anniversary Recognition at the Prisco Center. Saturday is the Picnic and Patriotic Concert, featuring the Chicago Brass Band, at Fox Valley Park District's Cool Acres.

Sunday will include a ceremony – featuring local ROTC programs and a riderless white horse – at Phillips Park Sunken Gardens, where more names will be added to the Veterans Memorial Monument. And, of course, that Monday is the Memorial Day Parade in downtown Aurora.

When I met with the committee recently, they were going over a checklist multiple pages long that included details ranging from portable toilets to bottled water to the hundreds of American flags we see planted at these events. When I left more than an hour later, they were still going strong, driven by what some of them describe as "a crazy" passion to help veterans.

"It can get very stressful," admitted Toma. "But just when someone is ready to throw in the towel, there's always someone else to say 'oh no, you don't.' When you get to help a veteran in need, you know you would do it all over again."